As he was never a strong man, so in his later times he had his health best, only about four or five yeares before his death his eie-sight was bad, and before he dyed quite lost. He dyed ... and is buryed in ... of the chancell at Kilmanton.
Memorandum: he played at chesse as well as most men. Col. Bishop, his contemporary at Trinity Coll., is accounted the best of England. I have heard Mr. Potter say that they two have played at Trin. Coll. (I thinke 2 daies together) and neither gott the maistery. Memorandum: he would say that he look't upon the play at chesse <as> very fitt to be learn't and practised by young men, because it would make them to have a foresight and be of use to them (by consequence) in their ordering of humane affaires. Quod N.B.
He haz told me that he had oftentimes dream't that he was at Rome, and being in fright that he should be seised on and brought before the pope, did wake with the feare.[LXII.]
[LXII.] Pope ... (against whom Robert Grotest, bishop of Lincolne, wrote) dreamt that the bishop of Lincolne came to him, and gave him a great blowe over the face with his staffe: vide Platinam.
'Twas pitty that such a delicate inventive witt should be staked to a private preferment in an obscure corner (where he wanted ingeniose conversation), from whence men rarely emerge to higher preferment, but contract a mosse on them like an old pale in an orchard for want of ingeniose conversation, which is a great want even to the deepest thinking men (as Mr. Hobbes haz often sayd to me).
The last time I sawe this honoured friend of mine, Octob. 1674. I had not seen him in 3 yeares before, and his lippitude then was come even to blindnesse, which did much grieve me to behold. He had let his beard be uncutt, which was wont to be but little. I asked him why he did not get some kinswoman[732] or kinsman of his to live with him, and looke to him now in his great age? He answer'd me that he had tryed that way, and found it not so well; for they did begrudge what he spent that 'twas too much and went from them, whereas his servants (strangers) were kind to him and tooke care of him.
In the troublesome times 'twas his happinesse never to bee sequestred. He was once maliciously informed against to the Committee at Wells (a thing very common in those times). When he came before them, one of them (I have forgot his name) gave him a pint of wine, and gave him great prayse, and bade him goe home, and feare nothing.
[733]Kilmington, November 8th, 1671.
Sir,
I recieved your letter but yesterday. I was borne upon Trinitie Sunday eave; baptized May the 22, 1594, but what day of the moneth Trinity Sunday was that year[734] I know not.
1671
1594
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